Ryen Van Wyk, Sophia Diagne Poised for Second Wins at NJCAA Champs

Photo Courtesy: Thomas Campbell/Texas A&M Athletics

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Indian River, on track for another dominant effort at the NJCAA championships, put up the top qualifying times in five events during the second morning of prelims action at the NJCAA championships. Ryan Van Wyk and Sophia Diagne of Indian River, both individual winners on night one, qualified first to give themselves a shot at a second win in the evening finals.

Indian River’s Courtney Stewart qualified first in the women’s 50 back in 26.64, well ahead of teammate Jillian Contich (27.44). Southwestern Oregon’s Piper Engler took third in 27.57.

In the women’s 400 IM, Indian River’s Malin Wallen qualified first by more than 18 seconds in 4:33.01. Coming in behind her were South Georgia State’s Jessica Dunton (4:51.14) and Iowa Lakes’ Monique Dias (4:52.60).

For the first time all day, a swimmer not from Indian River earned the top qualifying time. Iowa Lakes’ Hylton Collinson was first in the men’s 400 IM in 4:03.33, followed by the Indian River duo of Nikola Milosavljevic (4:04.77) and Christian Nishimura (4:05.79)

In the women’s 100 fly, Diagne finished first by more than three seconds, posting a time of 57.04. Teammate Ianthe van der Westhuizen took second in 1:00.36, followed by Iowa Central’s Jana Burner (!:00.81).

Iowa Central’s Mitch Emery was first in the men’s 100 fly prelims in 49.76, while Gabriele Sasia (50.26) and Ruben Van Leeuwen (50.27), both of Indian River, will swim on either side of Emery in the final.

A trio of Indian River swimmers occupied the top three spots in the women’s 200 free. Elizabeth Watts took first in 1:53.59, two hundredths ahead of teammate Camryn Wheals (1:53.61). Kenzy Green qualified third in 1:56.31.

Indian River’s Tiger Pilkington took first in the final event of the morning, the men’s 200 free. Pilkington touched in a time of 1:41.25, ahead of teammates Kevin Bargate (1:42.30) and Luka Tomic (1:44.31).

Author: David Rieder

David Rieder is the host of Swimming World TV and a staff writer for Swimming World. A contributor to the magazine and website since 2009, he has covered the NCAA Championships, U.S. Nationals, Olympic Trials as well as the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio and the 2017 World Championships in Budapest. He is a native of Charleston, S.C., and a 2016 graduate of Duke University.